I'm not sure "where" in the story line we were planning to end Part 1.

But I think I will have my character RŰg take up with the 2 Orc sisters, and possibly Undome would want to bring along Ungolt, too (?), and we will perhaps form a little group to continue on the journey to find an area of land suitable for setting up a place of their own?

So, I guess I'm asking how far shall my character and hers go in the planning of this joint venture?

__________________Eldest, thatís what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

Well, I don't know how much of an authority I am, but I know we discussed ending 'Part 1' just after the slaves and fellowship group and the orc group parts ways, the orc group given some supplies and sent on their way. I remember it being the plan that the groups would split up again until they both ran into some nasty "problems" and needed each other's help. I like this plan because I think the actual bringing together of the groups needs to be pretty gradual still (as in it needs more time). Of course everyone may want to bring them together sooner than that plan might mean simply because of time.

That can all be part of planning 'Part 2', if everyone decides ending 'Part 1' with the separation of the groups once again is alright.

Anyway...pio and Undome - If we go with the plan of the orcs and 'free peoples' separating again, would RŰg accompany the orcs? Would your orc sisters and RŰg form their own group, with maybe a couple others from the orc group and/or the slave/fellowship group?

That made a realization pop into my head - if the orc group could split up, and RŰg has joined up with the orcs sisters, and I know others are starting on some relationships between the free peoples and orcs, then perhaps the separation won't really work out? As in - it won't happen at all, or it will be decided but not really 'enforced' (not sure exactly how that will work, but...), or it will be a partial separation - most of the orcs aren't going to be ready very quickly to hang around with men and an elf, dwarf, and hobbit.

However we work it out, we're coming up to a point in the game, I think, where there will/could be the most splitting up into different groups, the most fracturing of the current groups, which we can bring all together again. So I think a lot of interesting things could happen. And I'd like to keep things open, so that each character involved can side with whomever they wish and cause any divides they wish.

We may not wish to have much splitting up, though, because we have taken longer than planned in the first place to bring everyone together for this... Also going to note: throughout this post, I've talked about all these "groups" as if they are clearly cut, easily definable and all that, which of course they wouldn't be. I know we have too realistic characters for anything to ever be clear cut, which would be boring!

Of course this is all making me wonder if we should wait on all of that, too, until people are more available.

I've rambled enough...anyone have input, ideas? I'll think on things and try and come up with more organized ideas, outlines maybe and all that.

Edit: Hmm, think I'm making things more complicated than they are/need to be.

Anyway, here are some options I see for 'the decision' or whatever it is:

If we end with the decision that the orcs are given supplies and sent on their way

This decision could be made (announced) by Beloan, representing the slaves

It could be made by Aiwendil for the slaves, who now will not argue...but I guess he would want them to stay together! (Perhaps if he thought they weren't ready yet...)

It is an unspoken, unofficial decision – the orcs get back together and leave once everything’s died down, some of the slaves giving them supplies before they go

So, I posted, bringing things forward. The 'decision' was made - Beloan told the orcs they can go and the slaves will give them some supplies. If anyone has a problem with that being the decision, with how I handled it, and/or with the fact that I brought things to that point in general, please of course let me know. My post can of course be edited, and parts of it can be removed to be placed later.

Also, I 'used' Hadith briefly, Nogrod, just to say that he specifically helped Gwerr out of the pit. So let me know if that's alright. And please let me know if you think I handled Beloan alright.

Child - I hope everything is well with you, and if you get a chance to be around the Downs at all let me know what you think about...well, the current position of the game in general I suppose! Everything! Anyway, we miss you.

Really, we can wrap up Part 1 very soon if everyone's okay with that -- those who wish to do a final post (epilogue-ish) go ahead or at least express your desire to do so here on the discussion thread. And I know Pio and Undome have some business to finish, at least.

I don't mean to bring this to an abrupt semi-end (just Part 1!) or sound at all harsh, and step on anyone's toes, but I don't think this is going to really move along much more until we regroup somewhere down the road.

Will try to post tomorrow or possibly the day after - computer crashed and only have sporadic access to a friend's.

__________________Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost, her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night . . .

We are wrapping up a 'Part 1', with the hope that we may start a Part 2 whenever those who wish to continue are available and would like to begin (basically treating it as if it were a brand new game). I guess we will work out what happens to characters of players who do not wish to continue when anything like a Part 2 gets moving.

If a Part 2 never happens, it never happens, but we'll see, eh?

That is of course as long as this plan is alright with Pio and Child and all of the players (so far there have been no objections).

Hey Nog! No, not a slacker...this game has not really demanded attention for a while now. Btw, I apologize to all for the obnoxious PMs, but I just wanted to make sure of where we stood.

I talked to Pio, and she suggested we close it up around the end of May (basically I asked her if she wanted to set a date, as I wanted to, so there it is ). Anyone who wants to do some sort of wrap up post should try to by then - if you don't get one done by then though I am sure Pio could insert it at the end cause she's so nice and endlessly patient!

She also said that she and Undome have talked and are going to leave their characters where they are and not fill in their saves, so don't worry about waiting on them.

I might do an overall wrap up post if it seems necessary (though anyone else can certainly feel free to do so if they'd like), but I don't know if it will be.

Oh no need to respond! And no need to do a wrap up post unless you'd like to! I don't mean to pressure people, just let them know that this is actually "ending" and give plenty of opportunity to say "wait! I need to--"....yeah. And I'm trying to be a good little co-GM.